Collapsible and portable shelter

ABSTRACT

A collapsible and portable shelter having a frame structure of generally inverted L-shaped members with a radially extending portion pivotally connected to a support unit at the lower rear part of the back of the shelter. A cover is attached to the Lshaped frame members and the frame members pivot at the support unit for folding and unfolding the shelter. A fixture is attached to the unit for supporting the shelter in its unfolded position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Bertrand E. Evans 1,946,137 2/1934 Frost H 135/5R Cassopolis, Mich. 2,266,853 12/1941 Dabney l35/5R [2|] Appl. No. 7,645 2,969,075 1/1961 Girten 135/5R [22] Filed Feb. 2,1970 3,131,704 /1964 Shimon l35/5R [4S] Patented June 1, 1971 3,491,781 1/1970 Reese 135/5R [73] Assign Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Att0rneys-H0bbs & Green and Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook [54] COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE SHELTER Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52] US. CL... l/5R ABSTRACT: A collapsible and portable shelter having a 151] 1 1- C 5041 0/ frame structure of generally inverted L-shaped members with Field 01' Search /5 R, 5 a radially extending portion pivotally connected to a support I 3 43 unit at the lower rear part of the back of the shelter. A cover is attached to the L-shaped frame members and the frame mem- [56] References cued bers pivot at the support unit for folding and unfolding the UNlTED STATESPATENTS shelter. A fixture is attached to the unit for supporting the 1,254,771 1/1918 Brown 135/58 shelter in its unfolded position.

PATENTED JUN l ISYI SHEET 1 BF 3 BERTRAND E. EVANS PATENTED JUN 1 19m SHEET 2 [1F 3 BERT/PAND E. EVANS IN VENIOR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUR Hen 3581.751

SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. BERTRAND E. EVA NS A TTORNEYS C(JllLlLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE SHELTER Foldable and portable shelters, particularly those designed for ice fishing, are often difficult to fold and unfold, to carry and transport, and to secure to the ice so that they will not be blown away after they have been unfolded and set up at a fishing site. The prior shelters were usually bulky and hard to handle and required a substantial amount of space to transport in an automobile or trailer and to store when they were not in use. Further, since there is normally no means other than the ice for securing the fishing shelters after they have been set up, the shelters are hard to tie down or otherwise secure to the ice and are unstable and unreliable, often becoming displaced or ineffective as a shelter. It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a collapsible and portable structure which when collapsed can be easily and conveniently carried, transported in a vehicle, and stored, and which can be readily unfolded and effectively secured in place on almost any surface, including lake or river ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice fishing shelter having ajframe constructed of a plurality of rigid frame members pivoted near the center of the backand folding generally into an elongated configuration with the frame members lying alongside one another in a compact arrangement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable and portable shelter which can be attached to a supporting structure by a single pole or fixture, and which forms an effective enclosure open only on one side and completely enclosed on the other three sides.

A further object 'of the invention is to provide a shelter of the aforesaid type which provides effective protection and comfort to the occupant or occupants and which can conveniently be entered and left while the shelter structure is in position.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple, lightweight shelter structure which can easily be manipulated between folded and unfolded positions without the use of any tools or other equipment, and which can be used safely and reliably without securing the lower edges thereof to the ice or ground.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present collapsible and portable shelter in its unfolded condition, showing primarily the front;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present collapsible and portable shelter in its. unfolded condition, showing primarily the back;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shelter showing it in its folded condition;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the shelter in its unfolded condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a detail as viewed on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;-

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, numeral 10 designates generally the present collapsible and portable shelter and numeral 12 indicates a support therefor, the support exemplified in the drawings being a sled-type structure on which the occupant of the shelter may sit. The shelter may be supported by different types of devices such as that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 as a substitute for the sled. The support shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 consists of a stand or pedestal-type of device having radially projecting legs; however, the type of support may be changed as desired to satisfy operational requirements.

The shelter shown in the drawings includes a frame having lower frame members and 22 and upper frame members 24, 26 and 28. The five frame members extend radially outwardly from a support unit 30 to which the frame members 20, 22, 24 and 26 are pivotally attached and frame member 28 is rigidly attached, by rivets or screws 32, 34,36, 38 and 40, respectively, extending through spaced plates 42 and 44 which are rigidly secured to a downwardly extending stem 46 to form a unitary structure for supporting the frame members. Stem 46 is preferably an extension of frame member 28, thus in effect forming a rigid structure with plates 42 and 44 and frame member 28. Frame members 20 through 28 are provided with lateral or horizontal extensions 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58, respectively, which are preferably joined integrally with the radial frame members. The lateral extensions are substantially rigid with respect to the radial frame members and form a generally L-shaped configuration. The frame members, including the extensions, are preferably of a tubular construction such as extruded aluminum tubes which are cut to the required length and formed into the L-shaped structure. The inner ends of the frame members contain holes through which the bolts or rivets 34 through 40 extend.

Mounted on the frame members is a cover of canvas, plastic, or rubberized cloth, preferably fully impervious to water and wind. The cover contains elongated pockets 60, 62, 64,66 and 68 for receiving extensions 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 of the frame members, these pockets extending substantially the full length of the extensions and thereby effectively retaining the cover in place on the frame members. The cover forms two sides 70 and 72, and top 74, and has a rear panel 76 with a slit 78 which permits the cover to he slipped onto the extensions and frame members and downwardly over the back of the radial frame members. The slit is closed by one or more fasteners 80 so that a substantially solid rear wall is formed. The pockets may be formed by any suitable means, such as stitching, and the cover is preferably provided with a hem 82 for improved appearance and to give added strength to the marginal edge of the cover. The hem portion 84 along the two sides and the rear form a marginal edge, preferably having a plurality of eyes 86 for receiving a stake or stud 88 which extends therethrough and may be driven into the supporting surface, such as ice or earth, or if the shelter is placed on a platform, into the structure of the platform. For reasons of economy and weight reduction, frame member 28 may be omitted if desired, since the cover can be adequately supported by the remaining four frame members.

The stem 46, which is preferably a hollow tube, extends over a stud or shaft 90 which is rigidly secured to a support, either the sled of FIGS. 1 and 2 or the stand of FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. The stem may be connected to the support by any other suitable means, but normally a shaft or stud such as that shown is adequate. When a sled is used as the support, it not only serves as a seat for the shelter occupant but also may be used to store equipment, such as fishing tackle, used during the ice fishing operation.

In the operation of the present shelter, it is normally stored and transported in the folded condition illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the frame member 20, 22, 24, and 26 are pulled upwardly along the side of the upper frame member 28, which is rigidly joined to plates 42 and 44. With the frame members folded in this manner, the top 74 of the cover may be folded inwardly into neat folds as illustrated at numeral 94 in FIG. 3. The sides and the back panel are folded inwardly between and along the side of the folds 94 as illustrated at numeral 96. The shelter, folded in this manner and disconnected from the support, can easily be stored or transported in an automobile, trailer, or the like, and may be carried by the user in this compact form. The shelter may be stored in a cover of plastic or other suitable material for added protection.

When the shelter is to be used, it is preferably assembled by placing stem 46 in or on the holder 90 of the sled or stand, and the frame members 20, 22, 24 and 26 are moved laterally from frame member 28, thus fully unfolding sides 70 and 72, top 74, and rear panel 76. The flaps at slit 78 are connected by fasteners 80, and margin 84 is preferably secured by spikes or' stakes 88 extending downwardly through eyes 86 into the supporting structure. With the shelter assembled in the foregoing manner, only the front is open, and the occupant can easily enter and leave by the front. After the shelter has been set up on the ice, preferably with the rear panel facing the wind, the occupant can sit comfortably on the sled and fish through a hole in the ice near the front of the shelter. The shelter may be easily moved from place to place by merely moving the sled, after stakes or spikes 88 have been removed. If the shelter is to be moved frequently, it can be satisfactorily used without securing the marginal edge 84 with the stakes or spikes.

The present shelter may be of various sizes. Normally, however, it is preferably made approximately 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 3 to 4 feet in depth. This size permits it to be easily transported, carried and stored, and to be set up at various desired locations. While only one embodiment of the present collapsible and portable shelter has been described in detail herein, various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A collapsible and portable shelter comprising a frame structure having at least two lower and two upper frame members, each having a rear radial portion and an outer generallyhorizontal portion joined to said rear portion to form a generally L-shaped configuration, a frame support unit disposed near the center of the back, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of said radial frame portions to said support unit, means for supporting said support unit for retaining said radial frame portions on a generally vertical plane, and a cover for said frame connected to said outer frame member portions and having side, top and rear panels forming a foldable structure with an open front.

2. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which a fifth frame member is disposed between said two upper frame members and has a rear radial portion and an outer generally horizontal portion joined to the rear portion to form a generally L-shaped configuration.

3. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said fifth frame member is joined rigidly to said frame support unit.

4. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said means for supporting said support unit consists of a stem projecting downwardly therefrom.

5. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 4 in which said stem is joined integrally with said fifth frame member.

6. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said frame members are of tubular construction.

7. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said cover includes pockets for receiving said generally horizontal portions of said frame members.

8. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said cover includes pockets for receiving said generally horizontal portions of said frame members.

9. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said rear panel is provided with a slit extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a point adjacent said support unit and a fastener at least partially closes said slit.

10. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 9 in which said side, top, and rear panels are provided with outwardly extending margins and a means is included in said margin for securing them to the support structure for the shelter. 

1. A collapsible and portable shelter comprising a frame structure having at least two lower and two upper frame members, each having a rear radial portion and an outer generally horizontal portion joined to said rear portion to form a generally L-shaped configuration, a frame support unit disposed near the center of the back, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of said radial frame portions to said support unit, means for supporting said support unit for retaining said radial frame portions on a generally vertical plane, and a cover for said frame connected to said outer frame member portions and having side, top and rear panels forming a foldable structure with an open front.
 2. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which a fifth frame member is disposed between said two upper frame members and has a rear radial portion and an outer generally horizontal portion joined to the rear portion to form a generally L-shaped configuration.
 3. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said fifth frame member is joined rigidly to said frame support unit.
 4. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said means for supporting said support unit consists of a stem projecting downwardly therefrom.
 5. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 4 in which said stem is joined integrally with said fifth frame member.
 6. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said frame members are of tubular construction.
 7. A collapsible and Portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said cover includes pockets for receiving said generally horizontal portions of said frame members.
 8. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 2 in which said cover includes pockets for receiving said generally horizontal portions of said frame members.
 9. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 1 in which said rear panel is provided with a slit extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a point adjacent said support unit and a fastener at least partially closes said slit.
 10. A collapsible and portable shelter as defined in claim 9 in which said side, top, and rear panels are provided with outwardly extending margins and a means is included in said margin for securing them to the support structure for the shelter. 